The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-02
THE PURPLE PLUME.

AeiliuC WCIC tiC gray toWCAo VI ~ANCi-
bOch's ancient castle.
The fourteenth century had just
begun and over the great German
land had ruled Albert the First, the
unworthy son of his great sire, Ru-
dolph, the first of the Hapsburg line.
When Rudolph was but simple
count, long before he ever dared to
dream that he would one day rule as
Emperor over great Germany, the
castle of Averboch was held by a
stout warrior, known only too well
as Everhard the Red. because he was
a ruthless and bloody soldier. Ever
hard was count, and yet his castle
was but robbers den, from which
the red bearded lord sailed forth at
the head of his mailclad rutfians 10
seize the property of honest men
weaker than himself.
But when Rudolph of Hapsburg
assumed the German crown, he gave
warning to all the robber knights
within his dominions that their reign
of terror was over.
"Liye in peace or war with me-"
said the iron-handed emperor, and he
meant. every word of the simple
utterance.
And Evernard the Red, grown
bold from long career Of crime,
laughed at the warning.
"All Germany's might cannot tear
me from my walls at Averboeh," he
cried in contempt. "Let this new
made emperor come, and /, the Red
beard of the Rhine, will teach him
that he is no more powerful because
the doting monks have mumbled
few prayers over him, and placed an
empty crown upon his head, than he
was when he was but the Count of
Hapsburg."
And Rudolph did come a. the head
of mail-clad army that made even
stern Everhard wink in wonder.
A line of steel the Germrn EN-
peror drew around the castle, and
coolly he sat down and waited for
famine's gnawing tooth and thirst's
bitter pang to fight his battle for
him.
The willy warrior did not wait in
vain, for after being shut up within
the strong tower for four weeks. the
desperate Everhard could endure it
no longer. and so, at the midnight
hour, sailed forth at the head Of his
force and endeaYored to cut his way
through the line of mailed men that
was crushing the life out of him.
The robbers knights found foemen
worthy of their steel, and, surround
ed by overwhelming numbers, the
Rhenish Redbeard died a soldiers
death.
Serving under Rudolph was dis
tant relation of the dead knight, a
poor. but worthy soldier, named
Conrad of Kiphausen, and as he had
neither lands nor wealth, nothing
but his good sword and pretty
young slip of girl, the German en-
peror bestowed the castle and lands
of Aberboch upon his DEVOTED fol-
lower.
Rudolph prospered and Conrad
thrived, and, after years had passed,
when the German ruler yielded to
death, his faithful soldier did not
long survive him.
In 1898 the battle of Worms was
fought. which gave to Rudolph's SON
Albert, the imperial crown of Ger
many, the crown that on account of
his cruel and tyrannical acts, had
been denied him.
For three years after that battle the
German emperor was engaged in
warfare-first with the king of Bo-
hemia, and afterward with the pope,
BOniface VIII. But when the wars
were ended, Albert commenced to
reward the tools who had aided him
to climb to the heights of power.
Foremost among the emperor's
favorites was a soldier of fortune,
Ludwig of Kurt. an unknown adj
venturer. who had no right to claim
kinship with the old family of the
Hurts of Alten-Aar.
The emperor wished to reward this
Ludwig for his services. and so he
looked around for some strong castle
to give to Ludwig's keep.
The eyes of the tyrant fell upon the
Tower of Averbock. Conrad Of Kip
hansen was dead, and his daughter,
Joqueline, a flaxen-haired beauty of
twenty, held her fathers lands, and
was toasted much by the neighboring
gallants under the title of the LADY
of Averboch."
Many a German lord had laid seige
to the heart of the heiress of Aver
book. and report limited that the